Irish potato famine mystery solved

Scientists in Germany have discovered that a plant-pathogen strain, called HERB-1, was the blight that caused the potato famine in Ireland of the 1840s. Before this tine, it had been thought that an American strain, called US-1 has caused the famine.

According to the website at Irish National Famine Museum, Ireland lost almost a quarter of its population to death or emigration between 1845 and 1850.

The mystery finally has been solved.

Read the complete story at http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4350890/researchers-discover-irish-potato-famine-pathogen

WHY AREN'T WE AMERICANS?

There will be an event Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the action between H.M.S. Shannon and the USS Chesapeake, on June 2, 2013, 1:50 pm - 3:45 pm at St. Paul's Church and The Old Burying Ground - Halifax, Nova Scotia.

On June 1, 1813, USS Chesapeake, Captain James Lawrence, sailed out of Boston harbour to attack HMS Shannon, Captain Philip Broke. Certain of another British defeat, Bostonians anticipating the evening's victory banquet came out to sea to enjoy the fight. They were shocked to see that only fifteen minutes after the battle began, Chesapeake's ensign dropped. Up rose the Blue Ensign; below it, the Stars and Stripes appeared. His captain, severely wounded, his first lieutenant killed, it fell to 22-year-old Halifax born Provo Wallis, Shannon's second lieutenant, to command his ship. The third lieutenant, Charles Falkiner, took charge of the Chesapeake, giving special care to Lawrence, who lay in his wardroom, mortally wounded. The two frigates sailed eastward into the gathering darkness as the disappointed sightseers returned to Boston to report the unbelievable news. Chesapeake taken!

His Honour Brigadier General the Honourable J. J. Grant, CMM.ONS.CD (ret'd), Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, will inspect the Maritime Forces Atlantic Honour Guard at the Grand Parade prior to the event commemorating ceremonies at St. Paul's Church.

Following the ceremony at St. Paul's we will continue on to the Old Burying Ground, on Barrington St. The Commemorative Service will take place from 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm.

For further information, please contact - Mr. Larry Camp-902-826-2630 or wendybrookpark@hotmail.com Chair of the Old Burying Ground Foundation.

Shannon vs. Chesapeake June 1813 http://ns1763.ca/hfxrm/shannon.html

Niagara Peninsula Branch Indexes Updates

Steve Fulton U.E., Chair of the Niagara Peninsula Branch OGS, tells us about the following indexes on the web site -

Surname Index - Contains over 24000 Pedigree Charts

Morse & Sons Funeral Home Records - Contains 19229 Funeral Records from 1828 to Sept 1963

Neff Young Index - Contains 19136 records of family histories, notes, newspaper clipping and memorabilia from Welland County

*NEW* Branch Publications Index - Contains 7998 various publication records for the Lincoln/Welland Area

Please check back often as indexes are being worked on.

Canadian Headstones Project - The Niagara Peninsula Branch continues to work on photographing headstones in the old Lincoln/Welland Counties. Just recently we crossed over the 20,000 mark and the number is continuing to climb.

Please visit http://canadianheadstones.com for your old Lincoln and Welland research needs.

For more information, please go to Niagara Peninsula Branch O.G.S. at www.ogs.on.ca/niagara

Canadian Week in Review

20 May 2013

I have come across the following Canadian websites, blogs, Facebook, and newspaper articles this past week that were of interest to me, and I thought you might be interested in them, too

Websites

Genealogy Karma www.mocavo.com/karma The search engine, Mocavo, has decided to “give back” to genealogy, and they have decided to build Genealogy Karma “to empower the Mocavo community and connect researchers around the country”. They modeled it after the former Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness. They are asking if anyone can volunteer or request help from someone for projects like taking a photo of a headstone, or finding a document in a local library.

There are 151 requests already on the site.

Blogs

The Passionate Genealogist http://blog.familyhistorysearches.com Canadian blogger, Ruth Blair, was at the NGS Conference in Los Vegas last week, and sent back reports on all three days of the conference.

Facebook- YouTube – Video

Ontario Genealogical Society www.facebook.com/pages/Ontario-Genealogical-Society/259163438258 Every time I go to their Facebook page, I discover new photos about Ontario.

Newspapers

Canadian history is not just about wars and battles www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/05/13/canadian_history_is_not_just_about_wars_and_battles.html An opinion piece written by Clive Doucet, a writer and former Ottawa city councillor, telling us his feelings about our history. Do you agree?

Historic restoration projects earn honours www.langleyadvance.com/news/Historic+restoration+projects+earn+honours/8392979/story.html This year, owners of the Cummings residence in Murrayville, the Matheson house in Willoughby, and the Hogben residence in Fort Langley were honoured by the Langley Township in British Columbia.

Card-Carrying Cajuns? Louisiana Lawmakers Weigh ID Change http://kosu.org/2013/05/card-carrying-cajuns-louisiana-lawmakers-weigh-id-change US News reports that Louisiana lawmakers are deciding whether to let Cajun citizens celebrate their ancestry by customizing their driver’s license, adding the phrase “I’m a Cajun” below their photograph.

Seeking PM's support for heritage designation www.thedailyobserver.ca/2013/05/18/seeking-pms-support-for-heritage-designation Read what has been a long history to getting heritage status for the Ottawa River. The rivers which feed into the Ottawa, namely the French, Rideau and Mattawa Rivers, already enjoy heritage status.

Op-Ed: Victoria Day is a uniquely Canadian holiday http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Victoria+uniquely+Canadian+holiday/8402341/story.html#ixzz2TkBt7pMg
Victoria Day, the Monday of the May 24 long weekend, sounds like a holdover from Canada’s history as a British colony – but it isn’t. Read about the real story behind May 24th.

Pictures and Story of the Week

The Library and Archives Canada was back in the news again this week. Although Daniel Caron resigned as Deputy Head and Librarian and Archivist of Canada and Chair, Heads of Federal Agencies last Wednesday, a check of the LAC site this morning showes his picture was still there – giving the impression he was still in the position.

But he resigned because he paid $4,500 with taxpayers money to take Spanish lessons.

The bio says that “he launched the modernization initiative in order to ensure the institution would be able to embrace the multiple challenges of the digital environment. This initiative is a call for collaboration, epistemologically grounded institutional policies and policy driven decisions”.

Although the last time the page was modified was 2013-02-08

Further, he still appears on the Facebook page in a short list called The Deputy Head's Short List. Updated about a week ago, it says that “as the Deputy Head and Librarian and Archivist of Canada, I am fortunate to oversee one of the most impressive collections of Canadiana in the world. It is my pleasure to share my favourite collection items with you every week. Visit us regularly to discover fascinating Canadian treasures from our vaults”!

So I am confused. He resigned - didn't he? Why is his picture still on the LAC webpage? Is it an oversight?

You can check the website at www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx

There were a number of news organizations, which covered his resignation. They were -

Head of Library and Archives resigns over Spanish lessons www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2013/05/15/pol-library-archives-daniel-caron-resigns-spanish.html

Canada's library head Daniel Caron resigns as $170,000 in expenses found www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Library+head+Daniel+Caron+resigns+expenses+found/8391614/story.html#ixzz2Tm11WTAS

In hot water for big spending ways, Canada's top librarian quits www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/politics/archives/2013/05/20130515-173805.html

The next Canadian Week in Review will be issued Monday May 27, 2013

Brant County Branch of OGS Monthly Meeting

On Sunday, May 26, 2013, there will be a General Meeting at 2:00 pm, the speaker will be Floyd Doctor, Smokey Hollow Estates, and he will speak about Chief Peter Green and his descendants. Come Early and Browse the Brant County Branch O G S Library.

There is Free Admission Everyone Welcome

And on Monday June 24, 2013, there will be a BBQ And Strawberry Social held at 6:00 pm Brant County Branch O G S, Library and Smokey Hollow Leisure Park, $12.00 per person.

Come Early and Browse our library.

This is our Annual Fundraiser!

The The Brant County Branch Library is at 114-118 Powerline Road, on the grounds of Smokey Hollow Estates, going east from the Wayne Gretzky Parkway, just outside the North-East corner of Brantford.

One thing to note is that they are having two reunions this year at the Brant County Branch premises.

The reunions are –

Haviland Family – July 9, 2013

Misner Family - August 17, 2013

The contact information is at www.ogs.on.ca/brant/reunions.html

The website of the branch is www.ogs.on.ca/brant

Google in overhauling it’s maps!

At the developer show held in San Francisco last week, Google announced it will be using two of its own programs to enhance it's map feature – it will be using anonymous data collected from people using Google Maps on mobile phones, it picks the best navigation routes, and it will be using photos people upload to its Panoramio and Picasa photo services, it generates immersive tours that swoop around popular attractions

Read all about it at http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57585066-93/how-google-with-your-help-is-overhauling-its-maps/?tag=nl.e496&s_cid=e496&ttag=e496

Newfoundland and Labrador's Historic Sites Open this Weekend

The Commissariat - At the corner of King's Bridge Road and Military Road, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Credit: Newfoundland and Labrador Historic Sites

Historic Site are opening this weekend in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Are you planning to visit any, or some or them this summer?

“Our Provincial Historic Sites offer an interactive history lesson on the many influences that have shaped who we are today as a people, including the lives of the Beothuks and the history of lighthouses,” Terry French, minister of tourism, culture and recreation, said in a news release. “You can experience Christmas in the Library at Mockbeggar; Voices on the Wind at the Beothuk Interpretation Centre; Jam and Jammin at Point Amour; or Cultural Company at Heart’s Content, to name a few. I invite visitors from home and abroad to explore our unique culture and heritage.”

Provincial Historic Sites include: the Commissariat House and the Newman Wine Vaults in St. John’s, as well as the Colonial Building (which is currently closed for renovations); the Cape Bonavista Lighthouse and Mockbeggar Plantation in Bonavista; Hiscock House Visitor Centre, and the Mercantile Premises in Trinity; the Heart’s Content Cable Station; the Beothuk Interpretation Centre in Boyd’s Cove; the Cupids Cove Plantation; and, Point Amour Lighthouse in Labrador.

For more information on these and other programs, visit www.seethesites.ca .
The provincial government has also announced that visitor information centres around the province opened today.

The centres provide information to the travelling public such as directions, advice and local knowledge, and also assist with booking reservations.

Provincial visitor information centres are located in Port aux Basques, on the Deer Lake Highway, Notre Dame, Clarenville, Whitbourne, and Argentia. The Argentia location is currently undergoing renovations and an update on its opening will be provided at a later date.